CHIEF Minister Tony Brown MHK has hailed the history-making achievements of Manxman Mark Cavendish in the Tour de France.

Cav became the first ever rider in history to win for two years running on the Champs-Elysées as he racked up his fifth stage victory in the Tour de France yesterday.

It was his 15th Tour de France stage success of his career.

Spanish rider Alberto Contador won the whole event - the third time he has done so in four years.

Mr Brown said: "Mark's performances have been nothing short of phenomenal and I know his many friends and fans in the Island were willing him to win on the Champs-Elysees.

"His achievements have made headlines all around the world and have placed the Isle of Man firmly in the international media spotlight.

"Mark has shown the heights that can be scaled with talent, determination and team support and I’m sure he will be an inspiration for future generation of Island sportsmen and women.

"We are all looking forward to Mark pulling on the Isle of Man team colours when he competes at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October."

Already the winner of stages five, six, 11 and 18 this year, HTC-Columbia rider Cavendish's victory in the Tour's final stage was his 59th road win since turning pro in 2007.

He said: "My Tour didn't start too well and in the first week I was wondering how it would turn out.

"But the team rode incredibly strongly for me and I tried to make amends. As the race progressed my feelings got better and better and winning here in Paris on the most spectacular finish of them all is a great way to end the race. 

"When you win you get confident, when you're confident you win.  It's as simple as that."